Since starting in 2009, Drum Circle Distilling owners Troy Roberts and Tom Clarke have been working to get their handmade rum into more stores each year.

They have had moderate success, too, making inroads to all the Total Wine and More stores in Florida and select ABC Fine Wine & Spirits stores.

But with Wednesday's truckload, the distillery went national.

After the cases land in a New Jersey warehouse, Total Wine intends to ship them to its stores in 10 other states.

"This is a big step for us," Roberts said. "It's not very often that a small producer like us gets to go across the country with Total Wine."

Total Wine's decision to take the product national comes on the heels of another milestone for Drum Circle Distilling, whose three Siesta Key rum brands -- Siesta Key Gold, Silver and Spiced -- sell for $20 to $25 per bottle.

In November, Caribbean Journal magazine gave the Sarasota company's spiced rum the prize as the best on the market.

"This one wasn't even close," the magazine stated. "In a year that saw the debut of several new rums, and increased attention on the niche by the majors, a small-batch micro-distillery in Florida gets the Rummy."

"Using only natural spices and honey and no artificial flavors, Siesta Key, which is working to broaden its distribution across the U.S (and hopefully, someday, the Caribbean) returns spiced rums to the way it should be."

As artisanal distillers, the Sarasota entrepreneurs are part of a growing movement. In 2003, about 70 craft distillers were working in the U.S., according to the American Distilling Institute.

Ten years later, there are now 475, said Bill Owens, founder and president of the California-based trade group. Between 40 and 60 new micro-distillers debut each year.

"It's part of the food renaissance," Owens said. "People want quality things in their lives, and we are part of that. The wine, the beer, the coffee, the bread."

Drum Circle Distilling does everything but grow its own cane in an industrial building in southern Manatee County.

Along one wall are four 2,600-liter stainless steel tanks, for storing water, making mash and fermenting. The room also contains a large copper still, and dozens of heavy oak barrels mounted on racks.

Both men are involved in making the rum, though Clarke tends to focus on convincing retailers to carry the brands, while Roberts hovers more over the equipment.

While Drum Circle's owners decline to discuss sales or other numbers, their customer list is beefy, including dozens of independent liquor stores and many Publix Supermarkets in the region.

Still, the duo are not yet producing enough rum to hire help. That spooked Total Wine somewhat, but Roberts and Clarke reassured the chain that they could keep up with demand.

"We are designed to grow," said Roberts. "We know exactly what to do to double, or triple, production."

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - For the two local men who make Siesta Key Rum, the truck that showed up this week to load several hundred boxes of their liquor was a very big deal.</p><p>Since starting in 2009, Drum Circle Distilling owners Troy Roberts and Tom Clarke have been working to get their handmade rum into more stores each year.</p><p>They have had moderate success, too, making inroads to all the Total Wine and More stores in Florida and select ABC Fine Wine & Spirits stores.</p><p>But with Wednesday's truckload, the distillery went national.</p><p>After the cases land in a New Jersey warehouse, Total Wine intends to ship them to its stores in 10 other states.</p><p>"This is a big step for us," Roberts said. "It's not very often that a small producer like us gets to go across the country with Total Wine."</p><p>Total Wine's decision to take the product national comes on the heels of another milestone for Drum Circle Distilling, whose three Siesta Key rum brands -- Siesta Key Gold, Silver and Spiced -- sell for $20 to $25 per bottle.</p><p>In November, Caribbean Journal magazine gave the Sarasota company's spiced rum the prize as the best on the market.</p><p>"This one wasn't even close," the magazine stated. "In a year that saw the debut of several new rums, and increased attention on the niche by the majors, a small-batch micro-distillery in Florida gets the Rummy."</p><p>"Using only natural spices and honey and no artificial flavors, Siesta Key, which is working to broaden its distribution across the U.S (and hopefully, someday, the Caribbean) returns spiced rums to the way it should be."</p><p>As artisanal distillers, the Sarasota entrepreneurs are part of a growing movement. In 2003, about 70 craft distillers were working in the U.S., according to the American Distilling Institute.</p><p>Ten years later, there are now 475, said Bill Owens, founder and president of the California-based trade group. Between 40 and 60 new micro-distillers debut each year.</p><p>"It's part of the food renaissance," Owens said. "People want quality things in their lives, and we are part of that. The wine, the beer, the coffee, the bread."</p><p>Drum Circle Distilling does everything but grow its own cane in an industrial building in southern Manatee County.</p><p>Along one wall are four 2,600-liter stainless steel tanks, for storing water, making mash and fermenting. The room also contains a large copper still, and dozens of heavy oak barrels mounted on racks.</p><p>Both men are involved in making the rum, though Clarke tends to focus on convincing retailers to carry the brands, while Roberts hovers more over the equipment.</p><p>While Drum Circle's owners decline to discuss sales or other numbers, their customer list is beefy, including dozens of independent liquor stores and many Publix Supermarkets in the region.</p><p>Still, the duo are not yet producing enough rum to hire help. That spooked Total Wine somewhat, but Roberts and Clarke reassured the chain that they could keep up with demand.</p><p>"We are designed to grow," said Roberts. "We know exactly what to do to double, or triple, production."</p><p><empty></p>